UH Athletic Department Receives Big Gift

KAPOLEI (KHNL) -- The UH Athletics Program found a pot of gold at the end of it's rainbow Thursday.

A large donation that will enable the Athletics Department to move forward on a long stalled project.

With a few signatures on the dotted line, the University of Hawaii secures one of the biggest victories in its history.

A $5 million gift by the Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation, marking the largest single donation ever received by the UH Athletics Department.

"We couldn't be more pleased to make this gift to the University of Hawaii. We think it will be a great beginning for public, private partnerships", said Jack Tsui, Foundation chairman.

The money will be used to transform the bruised and battered Cooke Field into an all purpose athletics complex.

The same facility that added a bit of a sour taste last year's Sugar Bowl season, by generating national headlines over it's state of disrepair.

"This gift is a partnership by the Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation to do something about that," said Jim Donovan, UH athletics director. "To make a statement. A statement to the Athletic Department, it's staff staff, student athletes and to the University and to the people of Hawaii".

The facility, to be named the "Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex" it will also make a statement beyond Hawaii's shores.

Especially to the recruits who consider playing in Manoa.

"They have heard all the past things on the news that we didn't have good facilities and this shows we are doing something about it," said UH head football coach Greg McMackin.

And for the foundation that's writing the check, the pride extends far beyond what this gift will mean to the Warrior football team.

"We are particularly please about this gift because so many students at the University use this. Not just the football team or track and field, soccer but intramural's."

Once completed the new complex will not only host high school events and athletics.